Kitchen Gifts for less than $30

Here are a few things that you might ask for or get for someone to help support a healthy kitchen. I shared this list last year. Stay tuned for the 2012 recommendations.

Big Ol' Salad Bowl: I love wooden ones. Perhaps mine is meant as a salad serving bowl, not as an individual bowl, but oh well. I love to be able to toss the salad in the bowl without throwing spinach all over my dining mates.

Steamer Insert (or a steamer pot). This is a must. I steam veggies daily. You don't want to boil them and lose much of the nutrients into the water, do you?

Another Salad Spinner. Don't tell me that you don't have even one? If so, get one for sure! I have a big one (for all my washed and ready greens) and a small one that I keep other salad toppings in. . . shredded beets, carrots, and radishes are in there now. These really help to keep your veggies nice and fresh. They range in price, depending on size and stainless or plastic.

Strawberry Huller. This is a silly little cheap gadget, but my daughters love to use it. Plus it keeps them from discarding half of their organic strawberries when they nibble close to the green.

Mushroom Brush. You aren't washing your mushrooms, are you? You should wipe them with a damp cloth or/and use a mushroom brush to clean them off.